nellyphant
visitor from Dimension X
I have the opportunity to go see a Finnish mate who's moved back home and was wondering if anyone has been over there and could tell me any pro's and con's of the people/culture and the country? 
Finland / Suomi ...anyone been?
- Thread starter nellyphant
- Start date
pk
drink flounce rinse repeat
Yeah, they like a drink, but who doesn't?
If you like spirits, make sure you buy them before you arrive, or be forced to hunt down an Alco shop (if they're not on strike).
Price of booze used to be crazy, but most drinks are roughly London prices now. They spend Euros, by the way!
Most of the action is in the south, Lapland is north and there's nothing there.
Helsinki and Tampere are decent cities, very clean, very nice... Tampere has a good nightlife.
Some amazing architecture, and a strong sense of independence mixed with the Russian historical origins.
It's fairly barren inbetween cities, vast empy fields of snow.
You do not want to go out there carrying drugs, nor do you want to get arrested by Helsinki's babylon, for anything at all.
Even the most outlandish Finns would completely freak out if they saw you snort a line of charlie - some might smoke a little dope but not many... it's very hard to find drugs out there.
Finnish people are really nice, generally, though they have some odd ideas about life.
Most of the young are devoted to death metal and are borderline satanists, leading to weird conversations about Aleister Crowley.
You won't see any black people, at all. Make of this what you will.
Finally - it's cold. Take good boots and warm clothes. And enjoy. I did.
If you like spirits, make sure you buy them before you arrive, or be forced to hunt down an Alco shop (if they're not on strike).
Price of booze used to be crazy, but most drinks are roughly London prices now. They spend Euros, by the way!
Most of the action is in the south, Lapland is north and there's nothing there.
Helsinki and Tampere are decent cities, very clean, very nice... Tampere has a good nightlife.
Some amazing architecture, and a strong sense of independence mixed with the Russian historical origins.
It's fairly barren inbetween cities, vast empy fields of snow.
You do not want to go out there carrying drugs, nor do you want to get arrested by Helsinki's babylon, for anything at all.
Even the most outlandish Finns would completely freak out if they saw you snort a line of charlie - some might smoke a little dope but not many... it's very hard to find drugs out there.
Finnish people are really nice, generally, though they have some odd ideas about life.
Most of the young are devoted to death metal and are borderline satanists, leading to weird conversations about Aleister Crowley.
You won't see any black people, at all. Make of this what you will.
Finally - it's cold. Take good boots and warm clothes. And enjoy. I did.
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
Think the Alco shops & the whole state alcohol monopoly was sold-off a few years back.
However much of the other public alcohol restrictions are still in place.
PK is right, you really don't want to fall foul of the police, nor do you want to get into any other bother. I did in my time there, twice (only once by my own fault)!
It is a great country, with so much going for it & really worth visiting, for all sorts of reasons but I have to say, after some time there, I was truly glad to get back to my own area!
Ensure you have plenty of money with you as well.
However much of the other public alcohol restrictions are still in place.
PK is right, you really don't want to fall foul of the police, nor do you want to get into any other bother. I did in my time there, twice (only once by my own fault)!
It is a great country, with so much going for it & really worth visiting, for all sorts of reasons but I have to say, after some time there, I was truly glad to get back to my own area!
Ensure you have plenty of money with you as well.
pk
drink flounce rinse repeat
Nope, they're still there (I was there not long ago!).
You can get beer anywhere - but wine and spirits? - it's Alco or nothing.
I spent time their working for Nokia and I found it quite depressing. The lack of sunlight has a lot to do with it, and the majority of the people I worked with were very conservative.
In Sweden and Denmark you see this too. I think it is an intensity of being that comes with living in dark and cold northern countries.
In Sweden and Denmark you see this too. I think it is an intensity of being that comes with living in dark and cold northern countries.
moose
like some cat from Japan
I love it in February/March, when it's dark most of the time. Helsinki is one of my favourite cities. Get thyself to an ice hockey match on a Saturday - excellent atmosphere and top fun, or get the train to St Petersburg (don't forget a visa). You may not see many black people, but you will meet lots of Iranians and Iraqis.
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
Wow! I certainly remember reading that the state element of Alco was to be sold-off ages ago. Has it remained as a private monopoly?
Yup, it was the same when I was there - Beer up to grade 3 was easily available, along with weaker wine in stores & restaurants. Grade 4 or 5 beer (strong), spirits, stronger wines & everything else were the province of Alco shops & bars.
Didn't stop the Finns getting sloshed at every opportunity.
ETA - Here it is, broken-up & partially privatised:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alko
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I want to be
Pony trekking or camping
Or just watching TV
Finland, Finland, Finland
It's the country for me
You're so near to Russia
So far from Japan
Quite a long way from Cairo
Lots of miles from Vietnam
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I want to be
Eating breakfast or dinner
Or snack lunch in the hall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all
You're so sadly neglected
And often ignored
A poor second to Belgium
When going abroad
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all
Finland has it all
The country where I want to be
Pony trekking or camping
Or just watching TV
Finland, Finland, Finland
It's the country for me
You're so near to Russia
So far from Japan
Quite a long way from Cairo
Lots of miles from Vietnam
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I want to be
Eating breakfast or dinner
Or snack lunch in the hall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all
You're so sadly neglected
And often ignored
A poor second to Belgium
When going abroad
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all
Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all
Finland has it all
Yep, I did that trip too; it's the Finnish equivalent of our booze cruise to Calais!
Finland being as expensive as it is, the route from the ferry terminal to the old city centre of Tallinn was dotted with vodka shops. (-It's sold at about the same price you'd pay in the UK, but which to the Finns, is a half price bargain).
There were rather a lot of pissed-up Finns on the boat back to Helsinki...
Yah, we did a "cultural thing" and went to an Estonian Chinese restaurant. I was still pissed from the trip when I was ordering my food. Man, I couldn't manage to eat anything but I still kept drinking. Then the girls went shopping. I got bored, (don't remember much here)..... blurr. Back on boat and waaaaheeeey!
nellyphant
visitor from Dimension X
My 'mate' was my ex-girlfriend (now back in Kouvola) and I played this particular Python tune to her...it did bring a smile to her face so at least humour is apparent in Suomi/Finland. She then almost instantly recited it back to me in Finnish....such a sexy language...prrrr.
I did looked into going over there to live. Cheap land/property (by UK standards) but yeah the booze shops are State owned by this was from the ex and she'd lived in Austria for 9years before I met her. Wasn't quite sure what I'd do over there given that you have to be either into tree felling or telecomms.
nellyphant
visitor from Dimension X
I get the impression that when you first meet them they are formal but polite and friendly. I met some Finns in Australia a time back and they were the most friendliest and geniune people people I have to confess I have ever met. Then again I heard recently that they had some mentalist go around doing a Columbine style shooting in a school. There must be a high level of depression there with having two and a half months of the year in darkness.
nellyphant
visitor from Dimension X
nellyphant
visitor from Dimension X
I mean 'bout their 'odd ideas about life'
pk
drink flounce rinse repeat
Well... they're really grim in their outlook, everything is doomed.
Apathy and resignation is firmy cemented into their psyche.
Maybe they get that from the Russians.
Yet when you get them away from their homeland they tend to come alive.
I think it's to do with the country itself rather than the people.
Hard to explain.
Apathy and resignation is firmy cemented into their psyche.
Maybe they get that from the Russians.
Yet when you get them away from their homeland they tend to come alive.
I think it's to do with the country itself rather than the people.
Hard to explain.
hash tag
Books, not bombs
I thought this was the best thread to bump on Finland. Mrs tag and I would like to head up this way for the landscapes and Northern lights. Tromso is/was high on the list but, having watched a few episodes of Artic Circle, we are totally blown away. Thing is, there is a hotel featured in artic Circle that has huge windows to capture the views.
Any recommendations for a few days?
Any recommendations for a few days?
Me in Lapland (Kilpisjarvi) at the most northern point of Finland where it meets Sweden and Norway.
I'm standing in Finland, while the guy on the left is in Norway and the chap on the right in Sweden. It was -27 and we got there on snowmobiles.
We stayed in Tromso and then drove north about another 3 hours into the arctic. We hired a local tour guide for the Northern Lights which was expensive (as is everything up there) but worth it.
I can send you details of the tour guides if you like.
Brilliant trip.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
We stopped in Rovanemi for a few days in Feb 2020 before it went pair shaped, took the night train from Helsinki.
Its expensive but its gorgeous countryside, expect to pay a fair bit for tours and the santa village was cute. Some great museums in Rovanemi though and lots of fantastic walking (sadly we didn't see Northern Lights). We fully intend to go back at some point, overall Finland seems to have its head on. Very much worth grabbing a car if you can and just hitting the pedal. You'll find the odd fireplace on the trails and the maps are always pretty fucking good and paths seem to be in good nick.
Its expensive but its gorgeous countryside, expect to pay a fair bit for tours and the santa village was cute. Some great museums in Rovanemi though and lots of fantastic walking (sadly we didn't see Northern Lights). We fully intend to go back at some point, overall Finland seems to have its head on. Very much worth grabbing a car if you can and just hitting the pedal. You'll find the odd fireplace on the trails and the maps are always pretty fucking good and paths seem to be in good nick.
Aladdin
Well-Known Member
Go..
Finland is stunning.
First thing you notice is the air quality...it's light and dry...and makes you feel great.
Helsinki is worth a couple of nights. Good architecture and great restaurants and bars.
Stunning in Winter. Its a long time since I was there. At that time there were plenty Russian restaurants and shops there too.
.....you can get across to Suemenlina ; a fortress just off Helsinki...if interested in history of Finland through the world wars etc.
There are lovely towns with beautiful old wooden buildings easly accessed by bus or train...
Old Raama is really stunning...and even more so in Winter.
Rovaniemi..... are you talking about the tree house hotel? The place with big windows?
www.tripadvisor.ie
Not been there...but I see its pretty expensive (understatement )
Stunning though...And the view of the Northern lights from your bed would be awesome. If I ever won the lotto Id stay there....for a couple of nights..
I went by plane from Helsinki and we literally rolled off the plane and onto a bus and over to see Santa ....I was with 6 adults
and then we were brought by minibus off out to the darkness to stand out and watch the northern lights.
Finland is stunning.
First thing you notice is the air quality...it's light and dry...and makes you feel great.
Helsinki is worth a couple of nights. Good architecture and great restaurants and bars.
Stunning in Winter. Its a long time since I was there. At that time there were plenty Russian restaurants and shops there too.
.....you can get across to Suemenlina ; a fortress just off Helsinki...if interested in history of Finland through the world wars etc.
There are lovely towns with beautiful old wooden buildings easly accessed by bus or train...
Old Raama is really stunning...and even more so in Winter.
Rovaniemi..... are you talking about the tree house hotel? The place with big windows?
ARCTIC TREEHOUSE HOTEL - UPDATED 2022 Reviews & Price Comparison (Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland) - Tripadvisor
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Rovaniemi: See 305 traveller reviews, 624 candid photos, and great deals for Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, ranked #4 of 13 hotels in Rovaniemi and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor.
Not been there...but I see its pretty expensive (understatement )
Stunning though...And the view of the Northern lights from your bed would be awesome. If I ever won the lotto Id stay there....for a couple of nights..
I went by plane from Helsinki and we literally rolled off the plane and onto a bus and over to see Santa ....I was with 6 adults
and then we were brought by minibus off out to the darkness to stand out and watch the northern lights.
Aladdin
Well-Known Member
Ps. The Finns are reserved people.
It took me a while to get used to nobody talking on the buses and no music in the shops....except for Stockmans Store in Helsinki which had its own radio station , incidentally they had an Irish DJ. Cant remember his name now but it was like walking into Clerys in Dublin when he came on
Finns do love to chat about their hobbies and winter activities and sports. Not so mucb politics unless you know them well...
Anyhoo.
Have a great trip. I envy you. I would 100% love to go back there.
Fuck covid
It took me a while to get used to nobody talking on the buses and no music in the shops....except for Stockmans Store in Helsinki which had its own radio station , incidentally they had an Irish DJ. Cant remember his name now but it was like walking into Clerys in Dublin when he came on
Finns do love to chat about their hobbies and winter activities and sports. Not so mucb politics unless you know them well...
Anyhoo.
Have a great trip. I envy you. I would 100% love to go back there.
Fuck covid
Aladdin
Well-Known Member
I'm kind of laughing to myself Spymaster....because when I went to Rovaniemi it was in 1998...and I'll tell you what I wore and everyone with me was pretty much the same..
Caterpillar boots, jeans, two pairs of long wool socks, thermal vest, t shirt, thick woolen jumper, windsheater, heavy thick coat,..over the windsheater, woolen gloves, double knit woolen hat and thick wool scarf.
We stood out for 20mins. They had a fire burning though so we could turn back to that if we felt too cold.
By the way..the railway station in Helsinki is worth a visit for its architecture.
And if you get to the Ateneum..have a look at the paintings of Akseli Gallen Kallela, based on the Finnish Epic "The Kalevala".
petee
no gods, no malarkey
right, I'll be over there on the next plane.
Aladdin
Well-Known Member
Well that outer suit I’m wearing in the top pic is an all-in-one, worn over a base layer, mid layer, fleece, jeans, and down jacket, which is why it’s so flattering! The idea is that it stops you dying if you go through the ice for long enough for someone to pull you out.
Dressed like that it doesn’t make much difference whether it’s -10 or -40.
